Vacuum-valve.



W. SHURILEFF.

vAcuurw VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEII, |917'- Patented May 28,1918..

2 sHEETs-sHEET :l

INVENTOR. l, wxfkg, ,f5 (li. VWJL, ATTORNEY W. SHURTLEFF.

vAcuuM vALvE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE Il. 1917 l Patented. MayZS, 1918..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY.

Awrtrnnin snrnarrnrr, or Momma, :minors vacuum-vanua.

Leemans, a

specification of Letters raient.

ratenteu Mayas, raie.

Application filed. .Tune 11, 1917. i Serial No. 174,024.

' To all whomz't may camera? Be; it known thatI, WILFRED SHURTLEFF, a citlzen of the United States, and a resident of Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois,- have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vacuum- Valves, of'which` the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vacuum heating systems" and particularly to an improved vacuum valve for controlling the outflow of air fromthe system and for preventing the return low of air thereto. y

My invention may be considered as an improvement over the inventiondisclosed in Patent No. 930,893 issued August 10, 1909, to Frank Shurtle. In the vacuum system of this patent a valve outit is used for controlling the outflowy and preventing the inflow of air, such outfit consisting of a vacuum valve structure and an auxihary check `valvewhich is necessary to initially produce a slight vacuum for enabling the diaphragmvalve to close. Ordinary check valves give considerable trouble in heating systems and therefore an important object of my invention is to produce a vacuum valve which does not require an auxiliary check valve for its operation but which will of itself effectively control the outlet of air and prevent return of air into the system. By

the elimination of the troublesome auxiliary check valve the eiiiciency is increased and the cost reduced.

0n the accompanying sheet of drawings Figure 1 is a vertical diametral sectional view of my improved vacuum valve, and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view of a system showing the location and connection of the vacuum valve therein.

Referring to Fig. 1, the valve housing or casing comprises a lower concave frame 10 and a top concave frame 11 between whose flanges 12 and 13 a flexible diaphragm 14 is clamped at its periphery, this diaphragm being preferably oit' rubber and reinforced by a flexiblev disk 15 preferably of wire screen also clamped at its periphery between the frame flanges; Bolts 16 are preferably used to `clamp the frames together and to permit separation thereof when desired.

Extending upwardlyy from the top frame 11 Mis the cylindrical lug 12' which is interior-1y threaded. to receive the valve seat `bushing 18hwhich surrounds the axial passage way: 19.; Engaging at its lower endy with the:

exterior threads of the lug 17 is the domeshaped frame 20 forming the valve chamber y21, the upper end of this frame having the threaded opening 22 for receiving the end of 60 a pipe or litting.

Within the valve chamber 21 is the circui lar valve disk 23 having the facing washer or pad 24 of rubber, leather, or other suitable `material for engaging with the upper edge 25 of the bushing 18 to close the passageway 19. A stem 26 threads into and ex- "l tends downwardly from the valve disk 23 and has the abutment collar 27 thereon for assisting in holding the pad 24 in position. 70

The stem extends through the passageway 19 and through the diaphragm to which it is clamped between the plate 28 and the :nut 29, the plate 28 abutting against the collar 30 on the stem and the nut engaging with 75 the threads at the stem end, The stem has the passageway 31 extending longitudinally therethrough from end to end and of a co-mparatively small diameter. Within the valve chamber 21 a hood 32 of wire screen or other 80 straining material is applied around the valve a-nd over the passageway 19 for protecting the valve seat from dirt.

Between the lower housing frame 10 and the diaphragm is the chamber 33 and be- 85 tween the diaphragm and the upper frame 11 is the chamber 34, this chamber 34 having* an outlet passageway 35 communicating with the atmosphere. In the bottom of the frame 10 is a cleaning opening 36 provided with a 90 removable plug 37. Under neutral conditions, that 1s, when there is neither pressure nor vacuum in the diaphragm chambers, the valve rests on its seat to close the passageway 19, the plate 28 95 and nut 29 acting as a weight to insure such seating. When the pressure in the valve` chamber 21 becomes greater than that of the atmosphere such pressure will be communicated to the diaphragm chamber 33 through 100 the valve stem passageway 31 and the area of the diaphragm being considerably greater than that of the valve, and the diaphragm chamber 34 being always open to atmosphere through passageway 35, the result will be that lthe valve will be raised from its seat and held in such raised position so long asi the pressure in the valve chamber exceeds that of the atmosphere, and there will bea flow from the valve chamber through the passageway 19 and to atmosphere throu h passageway 35u When the pressure'int e the -air fr'elief valve.

valve chamber 2l decreases and approaches that of the atmosphere, theweighted valve will drop to close the'passa'geway 1'9, 'then'- when the pressure in the valve chamber becomes less than that of the atmosphere, such lower pressure communicated to the lower diaphragmchamber 373 through kthe valve stem passageway will act von the diaphragm to cause it to'hold the valve securely against its seat, the upper 'diaphragm chamber 34 remaining Ia-t atmospheric pressure.

In Fig. 2, lthe connection of my improved vacuum valve in a heating system isshown. 38represents a boiler from which the generated vapor -or steam will flow through the Ysupply lpipe' 39 to be distributed to the radivz'i-'tors y40 through branch pipes 41 whose connections with the radiators are controlled by individual inlet valves 42. `The end of the supply pipe connects wit-h the boilerk below the water level therein. 43 represents the return pipe to which the various radiators are connected ...y branch pipes 44. 45 represents an 'eJector vwhose body is connected with the return pipe 43 and whose inlet end is 'connected with the supply -pipe while .its

youtlet fend connects with the condenser pipe or -coil '46, the ejector 'forcing the air and vazpor from'the return pipe in-to the condenser. 47 represents an yair relief valve which maybe such as is disclosed i-n my v11915, the relief valve servi-ng'to vent the air `from the system but to prevent lescape of f Afit flowsithrough ipip'e 48 `tothe valve chamber '^`21\of"\the`:vaeuum valve V. The pressure of this driven Vvair 'being greater than -that Yof atmosphere, Lthe vacuum valve `wil'l "be xpnetl to :penniit'lescape `of the 'air through passageway 35'. As explained in my Patent FN o. A151625611@referred to, fthe air relief valve @is lclosed Aas soon :as hot vapor -or steam Afreachesgfit and-heats -it after expulsion of the "air from fthe'system. When the air relief V valve-1s closedthe pressure in the vacuum V-valvechamber 21 will be `reduced and the valve -23'will befs'eated'b'yf gravity.

1W' henathe pressure in u the heating system becomes #less-than "that `of atmosphere, las

Awhen'l condensation results iw'henvfone kor more 'of .thefradiators `are A'shut off and become pooled, air will tend to lflow through-the 65. vacuum valve atmosphere passageway and through the relief valve back into the return pipe and into the radiators. The vacuum valvepreventstliis, for as soon as the pressure in the system falls below that of atmosphere, the pressure in the lower diaphragm chamber 33 is reduced below that `of the atmospheric pressure above the diaphragm,

yand the vacuum valve will be firmly held down on its seat to securely close the passageway 19 against the return liow of `-air to the system. When the pressurey in the .system again rises suliiciently the vacuum valve will. be re-opened for the escape of air. Any solid particles, or dirt in the air er vapor flowing from thesystem yare obstructed by thefscreen 32 yso that the valve seat 25 is kept clean for the accurate seating of the valvek 123. v

Y My .improved vacuum valve thus elliciently and accurately `and positively operates to permit outflow of air fromthe heating system but to prevent return .liow of air, and the vacuum valve requires no check valve nor other auxiliary fitting or mechanism for its operation. lts construction is so simple it can be inexpensively manufactured. Not only is the valve useful in connection with heating rsystems but it can `,also

be utilized in other field-s for controlli-ng the inli'o'w and outflow of gases `or {tui-ds.

Changes and modifications can -no :doubt also be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim as follows: il.` ln a vacuum check valve for heating systems, the combination of a casing, a diaphragm `dividing said casing into an upper diaphragm :chamber and -a lower diaphragm chamber, -a valve chamber formed in said casing above said upper diaphragm chamberand adapted forconnection with a heatingsystem to receive fluid under pressure, a passageway for connecting said valve .chamber and upper diaphragm chamber, a valve ,in said valve cham-ber for controlling' said passageway and connected-,to be shifti- .ed by said diaphragm, said upper diaphragm chamber .being always open fte atmosphere and said lower diaphragm chamiber. being always in communication with said valvechamber. i

2. In a vacuum ycheck valve for heating systems, the combination of a casing, a diaphragm dividingsaid casing into an rupper diaphragm chamber anda lower diaphragm chamber, a valvechamber formed` in said chamber -above said upperdiaphragm chamber and V.adapted for connection,with a heatningsystem toreceivc Ifluid under pressure,a

passagewayfor connectinglsaid valve chamfber'and upper diaphragmfchamber, avalve l1n said valve i chamber for controlling said passageway `and connected to be shiftedfby said` diaphragm, said upper diaphragmchamber `being1 always epen1toY .atmosphere neef/,sce

and said lower diaphragm chamber being always in communication with said valve chamber, said lower diaphragm chamber being otherwise closed.

3. In a vacuum check valve for heating systems, the combination of a casing, a diaphragm dividing said casing into an upper diaphragm chamber and a lo-wer diaphragm chamber, a valve chamber above the upper diaphragm chamber adapted for connection in a heating system to receive fluid under pressure, a valve port between said valve chamber and upper diaphragm chamber controlled by said valve, said upper diaphragm chamber being always open to atmosphere, said valve being connected with said diaphragm to be shifted thereby and having a passageway therethrough for connecting the lower diaphragm chamber with the valve chamber.

4. In a vacuum check valve for heating systems, the combination of a casing, a diaphragm dividing said casing into an upper diaphragm chamber and a lower diaphragm chamber, a valve chamber above the upper diaphragm chamber, a valve port between said valve chamber and upper diaphragm chamber, a valve in said valve chamber for controlling said port, a stem extending from said valve through said port and secured to the diaphragm, there being a passageway through said valve and stem for connecting the valve chamber with the. lower diaphragm chamber, said upper diaphragm chamber being open to atmosphere, said valve being shifted by the diaphragm to open the port when the pressure in the valve chamber is greater than atmosphere pressure, and the valve being shifted to close the port when the pressurey in the valve chamber is less than that of atmosphere.

5. In a vacuum check valve for heating systems, the combination of a casing, a diaphragm dividing said casing into an upper diaphragm chamber and a lower diaphragm chamber, a valve chamber formed in the casing above the diaphragm chamber, a port for connecting said valve chamber and dia` phragm chamber, a valve in said valve chamber for controlling said port, a valve stem extending through said port and secured to the diaphragm, said lower diaphragm chamber being always in communication with said valve chamber and said upper diaphragm chamber being open` to atmosphere, the weight of said valve structure and diaphragm tending to hold the valve in position to close said port, said valve structure .being raised by the diaphragm to open the port when the pressure in the valve chamber is suiiiciently greater than atmospheric pressure to overcome the @epica of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the weight of the valve structure and diaphragm, atmospheric pressure within the upper diaphragm chamber causing said dial phragm to securely hold the valve structure down to close the port when the pressure in the valve chamber is less than atmosphere.

6. In a vacuum check valve, the combination of a casing, a diaphragm dividing said chamber into an upper diaphragm chamber and a lower diaphragm chamber, a valve chamber formed in said casing above the upper diaphragm chamber adapted for connection with a Huid conductor, a port between said valve chamber and upper diaphragm chamber, a valve in said valve chamber for controlling said port, a stem extending from said valve through said port and secured to the diaphragm, said lower diaphragm chamber being in communication with said valve chamber and said upper diaphragm chamber communieating with atmosphere, said diaphragm comprising a rubber disk and a flexible metallic supporting disk therefor.

7 n a vacuum check valve, the combination of a casing, a diaphragm dividing said chamber into an upper diaphragm chamber and a lower diaphragm chamber, a valve chamber formed in said casing above the upper diaphragm chamber adapted for connection with a fluid conductor, a port between said valve chamber and upper diaphragm chamber, a valve in said valve chamber for controlling said port, a stem extending from said valve through said port and secured to the diaphragm, said lower diaphragm chamber being in communication with said valve chamber and said upper diaphragm chamber communicating with atmosphere, and a protecting screen over said valve.

8. In a vacuum check valve for heating systems, the combination of a. casing, a diaphragm dividing said casing into an upper diaphragm chamber and a lower diaphragm chamber, a valve chamber formed in saidv casing above said upper diaphragm chamber and adapted for connection with a heat ing system to receive fluid under pressure, a passageway for connecting said valve chamber and upper diaphragm chamber, a valve in said valve chamber for controlling said passageway and connected to follow all the movements of said diaphragm, said upper diaphragm chamber being always open to atmosphere and said lower diaphragm chamber being always in communication with said valve chamber.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of May, A. D. 1917. WILFRED SHURTLEFF.

Gommiasiener of latenta,

Werkman, m. 

